Upper Little York Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Upper Little York Lake falls in Cortland County, part of New York. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. Around 111 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The whole outline is near 2.6 miles, and most of it is walkable. It is the biggest water on our Cortland County list. Homer is the closest town at 4.7 miles. The big place round here is Syracuse, 24 miles distant. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Upper Little York Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Cortland County records list brown trout, brook trout, white sucker and common carp among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Upper Little York Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 20°F to 67°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Anyone fishing Upper Little York Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Goodale Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Upper Little York Lake locally before you travel.